Embattled headphone manufacturer Monster Products Inc. has applied to U.S. regulators to launch a giant $300 mln Initial Coin Offering (ICO[1]), a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing signed May 25 confirms[2].
Monster, which began trading in 1978 but in recent years became infamous for signing away the rights to its Beats headphones, now plans to issue 500 mln Monster Money Network (MMNY) tokens, selling 60% in its ICO. The SEC filing represents a registration of MMNY tokens as possible securities under U.S. law.
The proceeds will go towards the creation of a platform, based on the Ethereum[3] blockchain, to allow investors to use tokens for purchases, which Monster breaks down into three stages:
- “Stage I: establish Monster Money Network to provide the basic transactional functions, such as Monster Money Wallets and processing transactions in MMNY Tokens;
- Stage II: establish a private off-chain platform where micro-transactions can be completed without or with very limited transaction costs caused by mining activities (“gas”).
- Stage III: complete Monster’s blockchain and integrate such blockchain to the operating systems of the Company, such as marketing, accounting and auditing, payroll services, inventory control and shipping management.”
The move makes Monster the latest major company to venture into the ICO arena, just one month after encrypted messenger app Telegram pulled the plug[4] on the public section of its own offering.
Regulatory attitudes to the fundraising method continue to tighten, the U.S. part of a joint operation[5] with Canada[6] to investigate and punish companies that do not comply with established laws.
Included in Monster’s SEC filing is even a proviso regarding delays in issuance beyond two years:
“The holders of the Tokens may convert all or part of
